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There has been a number of Denmark Straits ‘what ifs’ recently – so not to be outdone I have come up with one of my own.

During the engagement where HMS Hood and the ‘unfinished’ HMS Prince of Wales engaged Bismarck and Prince Eugen HMS King George V was acting as the Home fleet flag ship.

And this is something that has always bugged me – why was the KGV held back as she was easily the most capable vessel regarding taking on Bismarck?

Why did she not join the Hood and POW or replaced either Hood (because she was obsolete) or the POW (because she was unfinished).

One of the reasons I have heard is that Tovey needed KGVs superior ‘Flag officer’ facilities and ability to communicate with the spread out Home fleet assets.

But I still don’t fully buy this.

So my POD is for whatever reason Hood is not sent to take on Bismarck and instead KGV leads POW into action on that fateful morning.

What changes with regards to the engagement? Do the British ships engage from further away (say 26K yards) and what is the likely outcome?

(I might try this scenario on Atlantic Fleet later)
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